Ore-washer



J. PAULL.

Ore Washer.

Patented Oct. 13, 1857.

-N4 Puma Munm hur. Wuhin mn. u c

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JOSEPH PAULL, OF CLIFTON, MICHIGAN.

ORE-WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,406, dated October 13, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH PAULL, of Clifton, in the county of Houghton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and a useful Improvement in Machinery for ashing Ores or other Metallic Substances; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, said drawing representing a central vertical section of a machine constructed according to my invention.

This invention consists in a peculiar arrangement of and manner of giving motion to a suspended basin to which the ore or mineral is supplied and which is immersed in water, by which the ore or mineral is washed cleaner, with a smaller quantity of water and a larger quantity of it is saved from the rock or dirt, than by the machinery at present in use.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, is the framing of the machine in the center of the lower part of which is a large tub or vat B, containing water, in which the washing basin C is wholly or partially immersed. The basin C is suspended by three or more rigid rods d, from a plate a, which is secured to a central shaft G, which is perpendicular to the basin and to which the basin is concentric, and this plate is provided with two trunnions b, working in bearings in a gimbal ring D, whose two trunnions c, (a, work in fixed bearings supported on the framing A. This arrangement of ring and trunnipns is equivalent to a universal joint. The plate a, carries a hopper E above it and a conducting tube F below it; said tube leading from the hopper into the basin C. The upper part of the shaft G passes through a hole in a crank or planetary arm H, attached to an uprightshaft J, which derives rotary motion through a pair of bevel gears from the horizontal driving shaft, I. The rotary motion of the crank or planetary arm H, imparts to the shaft G, plate a, hopper E, conducting tube F, and basin C, (which are all rigidly connectech) an oscillating motion, and at the same time a revolving motion; for though they do not rotate upon their axis, every point in them moves in a circle.

The ore or mineral matter to be washed, is fed continuously to the hopper together with a stream of water by a spout K, and the tub B, is kept filled with water to overflowing. The combined oscillating and revolving movements of the basin in the water, cause the ore or mineral matter and the dirt or foreign matter with which it is mixed, to be violently agitated and to undergo a constant transposition in the basin, and every particle to be brought in contact with the water so that a thorough washing of the ore or mineral and separation of the earthy matter is effected. The ore or metallic matter by reason of its greater specific gravity, is 're tained in the basin, while the earthy matter or dirt being lighter, is washed out of the pan into the tub B. The operationis continued till the tub is too full of dirt, or the basin too full of metal, for the proper working of the machine; and the contents of the tub are first drawn off through an opening in or near the bottom, and then the metal in the pan is drawn off by opening a slide in the bottom.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

The basin C, hopper E, the conducting tube F, and central shaft G, all combined as described. and hung on a universal joint and operated by a crank, substantially as herein set forth.

JOSEPH PAULL.

Vitnesses JOHN S. BLAINE, EDWIN I. HULBERT. 

